Snowfall

We had snow over the weekend.

Getting to the Point

The circular route around a topic is frequently the easiest for me. Sometimes I can write around and around and around and maybe at some point I reach the crucial words.

But not always. Sometimes I never find the crucial point.

This is especially true when I am writing about topics that require me to have an absolute unequivocal opinion. Or perhaps I should say things that I should have an opinion on but for whatever reason I pussyfoot around it.

This is particularly true about politics. I spent years not having an opinion about politics because I covered politics, and I wanted to be fair. So I bit my lip and never wrote something like, "Today the supervisors passed the most idiotic legislation I've ever seen."

I felt like writing that many times, I have to say. Over the 30 years I covered government, I saw a lot of stupid pass before my eyes.

Then there is national politics. Because I'm a reporter, still, I try to keep my thoughts to myself on that, but sometimes I just want to scream it out. I want to scream it out straight and get straight to the point.

But I don't. I learned a long time ago not to have an opinion. I learned that even before I was a writer, because when I had opinions, I found trouble.

Or trouble found me. My own opinions could often be used against me.

So best to keep my mouth shut.

But here I am with a blog that's been in existence for 12 years, and anyone who reads it ought to know by now where I stand on certain things. So for once, I'm going to get to the point.

I think #45 is a terrible person. He's a bully, he's loud, he's egotistical, he's arrogant, he's mean, he's a liar, he's a bigot, and he does not deserve to sit in the oval office.

People should not be used as pawns and keeping the government closed is immoral and sinful.

Walls are meant for houses and cover, not for separating nations.

Those are my points for today.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Name the strangest place you've ever been.

A. When I was 12 we traveled across the country in a van. Somewhere out west we went into a very deep cave, one that had an elevator. It was very deep, so deep that animals that had found their way into it had petrified and looked like they did when they died. It was also so deep that no germs could live there. When I came out, my allergies/cold was all better.

2. What are unusual food combinations you enjoy?

A. I am pretty mundane when it comes to food. My husband likes peanut butter and mayonnaise, and potato chips and ketchup. I'm not that adventurous.

3. What is your best cure for hiccups?

A. Hold your breath and count to 10. If that doesn't work, put a pencil sideways in your mouth and drink 10 gulps of water.

4. Name something you have never done but would like to try.

A. I would like to fly an airplane. I'd also like to go on a cruise.

5. What is a routine you do every day without fail?

A. I get up and make tea.

6. Name something new you've recently learned.

A. I learned that declaring a "national emergency" gives the president of the United States enhanced powers and the ability to do a variety of things, including taking farmland. There are 136 statutory powers that come into play when the president declares a national emergency. A lot of these powers pertain to the military but others involve health care, imposition of fees on agricultural commodities, and the FCC can waive licenses for broadcasters. You can see a list of them all here. Boring reading, but also a little eyebrow-raising.

7. What is your keenest sense?

A. I can smell and hear things that other people cannot. For example, I can smell snakes. Black snakes smell like cucumber. Rattlesnakes smell like overturned earth. I have walked by trees and then stopped and told people to back away because I smelled a snake, and sure enough, there was a snake. My in-laws once had a TV with a terrible high-pitched squeal that no one else could hear but me. The thing eventually went bad and I was so glad because I couldn't stand to go over there because of that racket.

8. Do you prefer cooking or cleaning up?

A. I prefer eating out.

9. Where were you the last time you saw the sun rise?

A. Thursday morning I saw the sun rise as I stood in my kitchen.

10. Recall a recent time you were embarrassed.

A. I was embarrassed when I was talking to a person on the phone about an issue with our flooring and I started to cry because I felt overwhelmed by the discussion.

11. What is an everyday sound that delights you.

A. The sound of my husband's voice.

12. Tell about the last conversation you had with a stranger.

A. The checkout clerk at Kroger gave me a description of the "new construction" the store is doing, which actually more of a basic painting and sprucing up, with some much-needed restoration of 20-year-old restrooms. The store does need attention, but I think it needs a bit more attention than it's getting.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Remember

Saturday 9: I Forgot to Remember to Forget (1955)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

In honor of Elvis' birthday (January 8.)

1) Elvis sings that he thinks about this girl all the time. What person or topic is on your mind this Saturday?

A. My husband. He has to work at the fire station today and we are expecting snow at any moment. He will probably have a long night. People really should stay home when the weather is bad. The snow is also on my mind because I need to dress and run to the store before the flakes fall.

2) He wants to forget the day he met his girl, but simply can't. Think about someone very important in your life. Did you know right away that they were going to be influential?

A. I am thinking of two people. One is the former editor of the newspaper for whom I did most of my freelancing. He was very influential and I think I knew that right away he would be even though I met him over 30 years. The other is a friend that I knew would be my friend the moment our eyes locked. Old souls.

Since this week's song is about memories, let's check on how well you recall events in your own life.

3) What was the first concert you ever attended?

A. I think my parents took me to a Loretta Lynn concert when I was small. The first concert I attended alone (not with parents but friends) was The Commodores.

4) Where did you get your first piercing? (Not only where on your body, but who did the deed and where did they do it?)

A. I had my ears done when I was in my early 20s. My parents wouldn't let me have piercings and I waited until after I was married. My hair dresser, Rhonda, did it, in her beauty salon.

5) What's the name of the bank where you had your first checking account?

A. First Federal Savings & Loan. It went under in 1990 or thereabouts.

6) Tell us about your first bicycle.

A. My first bicycle was a blue Schwinn, and it came to me when I was five years old at Christmas. It was under the tree as a Santa gift and had a Batgirl doll sitting on the seat. It came with training wheels that my father removed after I learned to ride. I rode it until I was about 10, and then my father backed over it with his truck. I did not leave it behind his truck, my brother did, but I was spanked for not taking care of my things even though I had no idea my brother was out riding my bike.

7) Who received the first text you ever sent?

A. Hmm. My friend Brenda, I think.

8) What had you been drinking when you suffered your first hangover?

A. Mad Dog 20-20.

9) Whose was the first wedding you ever attended?

A. I don't remember this for certain, but I am going to guess one of my mother's brother's weddings, or perhaps her sister. I am not a big wedding person and frequently don't go when I am invited. I will send a gift but I don't go the weddings, usually.

___________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen

The holidays are over, and this time of year lots of folks are sad. So here are some facts about depression.

1. Depression is a whole body illness that affects a person's physical health as well as how he or she feels, thinks, and behaves towards others.  In addition, a person who suffers from this disorder may have problems eating, sleeping, working, and getting along with his/her friends.
 
2. Specifically, clinical depression is a persistent, depressed mood that is often characterized by feelings of sadness or emptiness.  People who have depression, or more formally, Major Depressive Disorder, experience at least five of the following symptoms, nearly every day, for a period of at least two weeks: Sad, low, empty, depressed mood; Loss of interest of pleasure in nearly all activities; Feelings of worthlessness, or guilt; Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions;  
Decreased energy, fatigue,and feeling "slowed down"; Changes in appetite and/orweight; Oversleeping,early-morning awakening, or insomnia; Thoughts of death,suicide, plans or attempts

3. These episodes are also accompanied by clinically significant distress, or impairment (interference) in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.  If impairment is severe, the person might lose the ability to function socially or occupationally.

4. Of the estimated 17.5 million Americans who are affected by some form of depression, 9.2million have major or clinical depression.
 
5. Two-thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek necessary treatment
 
6. 80% of all people with clinical depression who have received treatment significantly improve their lives.
 
7. The economic cost of depression is estimated at $30.4 billion a year but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated.
 
8. Women experience depression about twice as often as men.

9. By the year 2020,the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of "lost years of healthy life" worldwide.

10. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suicide was the ninth leading cause of death in the United States in 1996. Today, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

11. Major Depression is 1.5-3.0 times more common among first-degree biological relatives of those with the disorder than among the general population.

12. In established market economies such as the United States, depression is the leading form of mental illness.

13. People with depression are five times more likely to have a breathing-related sleep disorder than non-depressed people.

If you or someone you love is having problems, talk to your doctor for guidance. They may offer you medication, send you to talk therapy, or suggest some other method of assistance.  You can also seek out resources online such as:

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Psychology Today

GoodTherapy.org

----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 586th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

In the Roanoke City Council Chambers

Tuesday we went to the Roanoke City Council meeting. My husband was receiving mention for his 35 years of service with the Roanoke City  Fire-EMS, where he serves as battalion chief.

As a news reporter I have sat through hundreds of meetings in various town halls and county offices, but I'd never been to the city council meeting. It felt familiar and I inspected it from a reporter's point of view, I suppose.




The media always interests me at these things.



City council chambers are a more ornate than I am used to in county meeting rooms and town halls.



The gentleman on the left is Ed Hopkins, who received 45 years of service. He is on the police force. He is with Mayor Sherman Lea and Vice Mayor Joe Cobb.

My husband headed to the podium after his name was called.



My husband would not turn around and face me so I could get a decent picture.

 

The honorees with Mayor Lea.



The City of Roanoke Seal

I am very proud of my husband. He has served the citizens of Roanoke City for a very long time, and he has worked hard to keep people and their possessions safe. He has an important job overseeing numerous fire stations. He has plucked people from raging waters, made sure elderly folks were out of danger, pulled people from car wrecks, stayed up for over 24 hours fighting large structure fires, and otherwise wore himself out doing his job. He should be paid what a football player makes, but of course, he isn't.

He is a good man. Roanoke City has been lucky to have him. I only wish we could afford for him to retire, because he is getting too old to be saving people. Fighting fires is a young man's job.

Why Learning Matters

I was seven years old and the bus dropped me off at my babysitter's house. She lived a good walk from the trailer my parents and I (along with my brother) were living in at the time, on a dirt road. I wasn't supposed to walk on the road. I was supposed to go to the babysitter's house, though.

On this day, though, I found the front door to my babysitter's house locked. There was a note on the door - a note that did me no good.

The note was written in cursive. I had just started second grade and we hadn't learned cursive yet. I could make out a few things - by that time I could read extensively for a 7-year-old - but only print. I knew my mother's signature in cursive and that was about it.

I wandered around the back and found that door unlocked. I went in and called for my caregiver. The house echoed only my timid little voice as I first called out a name and then moved to a sobbing wail as I realized I was alone.

The phone lines were still party lines, and I had been told on multiple occasions not to touch the telephones, no matter what, not even to answer what was called "our ring." I did not dare call anyone because everything was long distance. The only number I knew was my grandmother's, anyway, and she lived 30 miles away.

My mother worked at a job near my grandmother (it was a long way off to a little child), and my father was a traveling salesman and I never knew when he would be home. It would be two hours at least before my mother came to fetch me.

Two hours is a mighty long time when you're a little girl. I made myself a jelly sandwich and tried not to make a mess - my babysitter hated messes - and sniffled myself quiet long enough to do whatever homework I had. Then I settled in to finish reading Bambi, by Felix Salten. This was the original novel, not the Disney version for kids, which tells you how progressed I was in my reading.

My mother finally turned up, followed not long after by my babysitter, who had left because she'd had an emergency with one of her own children.

Both were surprised to find me alone in the house.

I had not followed directions. I was supposed to walk up the road in the opposite direction of my home to the trailer up the hill, where an adult was waiting to take me in hand (why the adult never came for me, I do not know). I remember being yelled at, and my mother giving me a swat on the behind for not doing what I was told and for leaving crumbs on the kitchen table.

After they all finished yelling at me, I tearfully explained that I couldn't read the message. "You can read!" my mother exploded.

"Not that kind of writing," I cried.

It was then my mother saw the note and realized it was in cursive. I could not read cursive at that time, though I made it a priority after this incident. (I remember going to my second-grade teacher and begging her to teach me cursive, bursting into tears while I asked, and so without question she took me aside during the daily quiet time when the other children were napping, and taught me to read cursive writing, which wasn't taught until third grade. Bless her.)

I don't recall an apology from the babysitter or my mother, but I generally don't in most of my memories. Adults in my youth were not known for apologizing when they screwed up. Unlike Andy Taylor in the Andy Griffith Show, big people in my life were not good at recognizing the need to sit tiny little me on a knee and kiss me on the head and say, "I'm sorry." That's too bad, really, because it would have gone a long way toward making childhood more bearable. (It helps in adulthood too, if people say they are sorry, but I no longer expect apologies from anyone. I just hand out "I'm sorry" like candy, myself, knowing it is somehow my fault that I was too young to read cursive (with said incident serving as a nice metaphor of everything I cannot do or do not do right).

It wasn't long thereafter that I had a new babysitter, though I don't recall if the incidents were related or if it was because the babysitter was going to have a seventh child. Oddly, I don't know who kept me after school after that; certainly someone did for a time. After my brother started school I know where we stayed but there is a gap there for me in that I don't know where I went after school for the remainder of the second grade and none of the third grade. Maybe I just went home and stayed alone, although that doesn't sound right. I'll have to ask my brother if he remembers.

This odd memory came roaring back this morning, totally unbidden, while I was in the shower. It is neither a bad memory nor a good one; it's more a tale of how life was when I was growing up.

Perhaps a recent article I read about how certain states are bringing cursive writing back into the curriculum brought this incident to mind. Supposedly cursive has always been taught here where I live, but my 24-year-old nephew, who went through the same school system I did, only 25 years later, cannot read it. Two years ago when my brother sent him a recipe in my mother's handwriting, he couldn't understand the words because they were written in my mother's beautiful cursive.

When I go to the county courthouse, all of the old records are handwritten. Court orders, civil verdicts, birth and death certificates - all written in longhand, all illegible to thousands of people who cannot read cursive and apparently have no desire to do so.

Many primary sources that pre-date the 1900s are handwritten. The original U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are written in the cursive of the time. Can you read them?

 

My cursive handwriting is awful; I turned to print a long time ago. I still remember how to write it, though.

And I certainly now know how to read it.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Are you filled with joy today?

A. No. But . . . Joy to the world! All you boys and girls. Joy to the fishies in the deep blue sea, and joy to you and me!

2. Has it been a rough week?

A. Not especially.

3. If given the opportunity, would you like to star in a musical?

A. No, although sometimes I wish the entire world were a musical. Wouldn't it be fun if we'd all break out into song occasionally?

4. Name one person you’d take a bullet for.

A. I don't like violent questions like this, but I would take one for my husband. And probably anyone else, for that matter. Or I like to think I would, anyway.

5. Did you trip over anything today?

A. Not yet.

6. Last time you painted a picture?

A. I don't paint. I color. I haven't done that since October, though.

7. Is your favorite color yellow?

A. No.

8. Were you born in a hospital? Do you know the name of the person that delivered you?

A. I was born in a hospital and I was delivered by Dr. Cruzer, I think.

9. Have you ever had a friend or relative that’s incarcerated?

A. That sentence makes no sense. Grammar police! Grammar police! Arrest sentence #9!

10. Do you enjoy romantic movies, even when they’re cliche?

A. Depends on my mood.

11. Would you rather watch a movie or listen to music?

A. I listen to music more than I watch movies.

12. Ever been to Rhode Island?

A. No.

13. Can you tell the difference between a Scottish & an Irish accent?

A. I never thought about it.

14. Can you read music?

A. Yes. ♪ ♫

15. Have you been to McDonald’s in the past month?

A. I do not eat at McDonald's at all. I can't remember the last time I was in a McDonald's.
__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them. (#265)

Saturday 9: Brand New

Saturday 9: You Make Me Feel Brand New (1974)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2019!

1) As 2019 kicks off, what are your hopes for the brand new year?

A. I hope that people are kinder, for one. I hope that I feel better, for another. It would be nice if I could get well enough that my doctor would say, "Sure, go on back to work." I hope my husband can hold up under the pressures of his three jobs.

2) Just because an item isn't brand new doesn't mean it isn't valuable. Have you scored any fabulous finds at a second hand store or website?

A. Not lately, no. I did get my husband's aunt's china at her estate sale several years ago.

3) This song is sung by The Stylistics, a group from Philadelphia. Have you ever been to Philly?

A. I don't think so.

4) This song was co-written by Thom Bell, a Philadelphia-based musician/producer who was born in Kingston, Jamaica. The average daily temp in Kingston in January is 87º. Do you have plans to get away this winter and go somewhere warm?

A. I wish, but no.

5) The Stylistics took their choreography very seriously. As you can see from the video, they even carefully synchronized their hand movements. Do you use your hands much when you talk?

A. When I am irritated or excited I do.

6) The lyrics tell us that the singer is grateful for a friend who will walk with him along a path that "sometimes bends." Looking back on 2018, tell us about a time that life's path took a bend you didn't quite expect.

A. I made an effort to get to know my stepmother in August.

7) In 1974, when this song was popular, Chicago's Sears Tower opened and was for years the world's tallest building. Its elevators can carry you to the 103rd floor in approximately a minute. When were you last on an elevator?

A. When I was in the county courthouse to pay my personal property taxes. It's a tiny little elevator, too. Smaller than a closet. Totally claustrophobic.

8) Also in 1974, the 55 mph speed limit was imposed nationwide. When you drive, are you careful to stay within the speed limit? Or do you have a led foot?

A. My initials are A. J. and I'm afraid I sometimes live up to them.

9) Random question -- It's time to pose for your Saturday 9 yearbook picture. Will you show us your right profile, your left profile, or will you look directly into the camera?

A. Left side.

___________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen #585

Happy New Year! I hope 2019 is a wonderful year for you, dear reader.

Here, in no particular order, are 13 happy songs. Because we all need happy in the new year and music can make you happy.

1. Good Vibrations, the Beach Boys.



2. Happy, by Pharell Williams



3. I Feel Good, by James Brown



4. Uptown Funk, by Mark Ronson w/ Bruno Mars (This song makes me happy, I don't know about anyone else.)



5. Call Me Maybe, by Carly Rae Jepsen



This version of a flash mob with The Big Bang Theory is cute:



6. Dancing Queen, by Abba



7. Don't Worry Be Happy, by Bobby McFerrin



8. Me and Julio Down by the School Yard, by Paul Simon



9. The Way You Make Me Feel, by Michael Jackson



10. Walking on Sunshine, by Katrina and the Waves



11. I'm a Believer, by The Monkees



12. Sugar, Sugar, by The Archies



13. The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA, by Donna Fargo






----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 585th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Big Birds

Red-Tailed Hawk

Pileated Woodpecker

A New Year

"It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something. . . That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.” - Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers (Peter Jackson movie version)

Now we come to it - the new year. Another day, a reason to purchase a new calendar. Maybe a time to reflect, but I have stopped making goals and resolutions. I think this is an error on my part, for we all need something to reach for . . . something to have hope about, whether it is as large as saving an entire land from darkness or as small as purchasing a longed-for object, or creating something big or minor.

Hope springs eternal in the heart of humanity, no matter how much darkness we see, or how much rain falls. Rainbows do come, after all, at some point, even if we don't live to see them.

Life goes on.

Here's what the sunrise looked like this morning:

How can you not have hope on a gray day when it starts out with a little pink?

At Year's End

So now at last we come to it, the end of 2018.

What has this year brought?

Rain. Mold. Leaks. We've had about 22" more rain that normal and broke records for rain for the year. My poor husband could barely find a dry day to make hay, never mind work on people's septic tanks.

As this day hit is mid-hour, I learned that Elizabeth Warren is looking into running for President of the United States. While I would love to see her as president, I don't think she is the candidate for the Democrats. We will see. Already on Facebook the #45 trolls are out, bashing, thrashing, mauling, crawling, before the day is even thinking of ending.

Play nice.

I would like to say I saw lots of niceness in 2018, but I did not. Oh, I was not personally molested, except for my mind, which frequently couldn't begin to understand the anger, ire, hatred, bigotry and rage that surrounds me. I stopped reading comments on articles, even mundane things, because suddenly there would be hate, seemingly unrelated and coming out of left field. This is really America, though. This is what we are, who we are, and our new normal. We're a people full of hate and rage. I suppose we always have been. My rose-colored glasses kept me from seeing it. I thought we liked one another, that we cared about each other, that we were rising to a higher level of society. That we would one day be the pinnacle of civilization, a true beacon of light and hope.

I don't think that now.

My life went on quietly, with no great strides in personal growth, but I don't think I went backwards, either. I read fewer books, which was unfortunate, but ever since I switched to progressive lenses I find reading harder and more headache-inducing. It makes me sad that my eyes are keeping me from something I love so much, but there you go. It is what it is. I read more magazine articles now, though. More things online, too, because I can increase the font.

The rain suits me. Or maybe it is the mud, because I feel stuck, my feet firmly encased in goo that oozes down my socks and traps me as I stand there in my shoes. Thank goodness I still have clothes on. Wouldn't that be a sorry sight.

Today I reflect. Tomorrow I hope.

Tonight, I go to bed and sleep in the new year, much as I have done most of my life. You can make a new year on any day of your life, after all, if you want. Just be different one day and see what happens.

Let's all try that tomorrow. My nephew has a motto for his business that is "be opposite." I wonder if all of those who hate could try that, just for a day. Be opposite and love.

Would everything break, if it was just for a day?

I hope you, my dear reader, whoever you are, have a wonderful 2019. I hope you had a good 2018, too. I hope it wasn't a year filled with hate and heartbreak. I hope 2019 brings everyone sacks full of hope, honesty, honor, and love.

Sacks that I hope find their way into hearts and not trash cans.

Be good out there. Be kind. Be best, as our First Lady says.

Be your best.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Are flowers a nice gift to give someone?

A. So long as the person is not allergic to them, they are a lovely present.

2. Do you wear any jewelry?

A. I wear my wedding band, a necklace, and earrings when I go out.

3. Have you ever laid in a field of flowers?

A. Yes. (Ok, is it "laid" or "lain" - I always get this confused.)

4. Do you like tea?

A. Yes. My favorite is decaffeinated Irish tea.

5. What would you do with a million dollars?

A. You can't buy much with a million dollars these days, but I'd like to think I'd set "enough" aside so that we didn't have to worry, and establish a foundation with the remainder so I could help people. I'd like to build a library, for one thing.

6. What word do you have trouble saying?

A. Vacuuming.

7. Favorite fairytale?

A. I have always been partial to Snow White and Red Rose.

8. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?

A. No. I outgrew that a very long time ago.

9. Do you prefer the city or the country?

A. I live in the country and prefer it to the city.

10. Are you a big fan of makeup?

A. I wear it but I wouldn't say I am a fan. It is becoming expensive and I can foresee a day when I might actually venture out without it. I see more women not wearing it.

11. Favorite drink?

A. I love Coca-Cola but I haven't had any in years.

12. What’s the longest amount of time you’ve stayed awake?

A. About 24 hours. That happened in 2010 and was the year we drove to Myrtle Beach, SC, discovered our hotel was awful and everything else was booked up, so we turned around and drove back home. What a long day that was.

13. Have you ever traveled outside of your country?

A. I have been to Spain and France.

14. Do you like spring?

A. Yes. Boing. Boing.

15. Lipstick or lip gloss?

A. I wear Burt's Bees Honey Moisturizing Lip Balm. Only that will do.

16. Favorite color?

A. Blue.

17. Do you like to decorate?

A. Not particularly.

18. Do you ever go barefoot when you’re outside?

A. Not if I can help it.

19. Are aliens real?

A. Why not? People believe in all sorts of weird stuff. Might as well believe in aliens too.

20. Does you zodiac sign fit your personality?

A. Yes. I'm a Gemini.

21. Favorite sea animal?

A. The urchin.

22. Are you a nice person?

A. I am told I am.

23. Favorite word?

A. Interesting. It covers every situation.

24. Night or day?

A. Day.

25. What would make you happy right now?

A. A sense of purpose.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.